The God Instinct: Heeding Your Heart's Unrest

Tom Stella is a Roman Catholic priest, an educator and spiritual director. He has a unique style of presentation on some basic themes of life. His emphasis on the realization of life's awesomeness can bring about a more in depth understanding of ourselves. Some would say he has written the book for scholars, but on the contrary, Stella spent a week end in our protestant church talking to ordinary lay persons about the necessity of "perpetual conversion"--the letting go of familiar understandings and the willingness to entertain other perceptions of the elements of life. Stella's perceptions of God and the ultimate significance of the "Essence" in human life are congruent with the theology and writings of Marcus Borg and the latter's use of William James' term "More". "The God Instinct--Heeding Your Heart's Unrest" is an excellent book personal contemplation or for group study, but the members of the group had better study ahead. There are no discussion guides, but it can be a very rewarding study for those who prepare.

Tom Stella is a gifted writer whose new book - THE GOD INSTINCT can best be described as powerful, inspirational and insightful. Tom is a Catholic priest, though after reading his book, you will conclude that he could just as easily be a holy man representing any one of a multitude of religions.Tom opens our minds to a new way of experiencing and understanding God's presence in our life. Seeing God in this light helps us to understand how we are all one, seeking our individual destinies while always in touch, in some mysterious yet personal way. He helps us to understand that we are spiritual beings having a human experience, a concept I had not previously considered. He points out that who we are is more than what we are or what we do, and that who we thought we were was merely the tip of the iceberg. The part of us beneath the surface proves to be vast and devine. It is there where we find our soul, which is one with God, blurring the boundary that once clearly separated humanity and divinity. Understanding individuals in this new light explains why we must have reverence for all human beings.Talking about religion, Tom notes that religion cannot and need not be a Sabbath only affair whose intent is to help us get through life unscathed by sin. It must be about passion more than piety, celebration, not just obligation, life as well as liturgy. It must be a positive force, both alive and enlivening. It must serve to rebind us not only to our true selves, but to the human community as well. And yes, there are positives to be found in institutional religion, which can have potential values for all of us.Tom gives us insight into spirituality and the spiritual person, making these concepts more attainable and understandable to us. He significantly broadened ny definition of faith, pointing out that in true faith, we do not lose contact with people. He also helped me realize that there is a "listening" component to prayer - another revelation to me.Tom makes us think further when he states that "an indication that one is growing spiritually is not evidenced by the frequency or intensity of religious experiences, but by the capacity for being smitten by the subtle holiness of life in its everyday simplicity". He relates how we can be spiritually enriched by recognizing and tending to the needs of our bodies, our minds and our emotions. He recognizes that we need not reject the material world to grow spiritually, but in our pursuit of God, we must look within and embrace our longings, rather than looking elsewhere to satisfy them. He makes a good point when he says that though we continue to fall prey to the lure of things; we eventually sense the futility of finding in them satisfaction for our hearts' longing.In his discussionn of relationships, Tom made me aware of another way to look at selfishness - expecting or demanding that others orient their lives so as to please us.Tom's chapter on work is truly inspirational - a chapter that deserves perio

"The God Instinct" is a breath of fresh air in affirming the sacredness of our lives, in spite of our struggles with long held beliefs, religious precepts and our human imperfections.Stella draws heavily upon his own spiritual odyssey inspired by spiritual writers, such as, Thomas Merton and Anthony DeMello. He allows us to be comfortable with our constant searchings and uncertainties--perhaps, one of the basic ingredients of spirituality.His style is concise and well-constructed rendering an easy, enjoyable read. Homespun, humorous axioms are engagingly used to explicate "nuggets" of spiritual wisdom.This work is really a collection of essays on essential facets of our spiritual lives. Such a format lends itself to use as short spiritual readings/meditations for groups or individuals."The God Instinct" is a refreshingly inciteful treatise on spirituality.